Etihad Airways appoints Head of Media Relations

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has appointed Amina Taher, a UAE national with more than 10 years’ experience in the field of marketing and communications, as its new Head of Media Relations.

Ms Taher joins the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s award-winning Corporate
Affairs department and will be responsible for all aspects of its expanding
media relations program, reporting to Vice President, Michael Venus.

Ms Taher joins Etihad Airways from the Mubadala Development Company
(MDC) where she held the position of Head of Social Development and Sponsorship
in the Group Communications Unit.

Michael Venus said: “Etihad Airways continues to expand its operations,
increasing the need to recruit the industry’s leading professionals. Amina’s
appointment demonstrates our commitment to having a world class workforce, with
Emiratis at the core of the business.

“Amina brings great media and communications experience and expertise to
the role which will strengthen the department’s capabilities as we move forward
into the second decade of operations, flying to more than 100 destinations
worldwide.”

Prior to joining Mubadala Amina also held the role of Executive Director,
Corporate Communications at Zabeel Investments.
Her career highlights also include mentoring Emirati entrepreneurs,
starting an organic food company, and speaking at women and leadership
conferences.

Ms Taher holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the
London Business School as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Media Studies,
graduating with honours from the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai.

Amina Taher, said: “Etihad Airways is recognised as one of the region’s
most dynamic and exciting companies to work for and I’m delighted to join the
department charged with communicating this story to a global media audience.”

“Etihad Airways is also renowned for its award-winning Emiratisation
program and its commitment to UAE nationals, which is very important to me. I’m
looking forward to playing a key role in the development of younger Emiratis as
well as enhancing my own career.”

Etihad Airways has one of the busiest media relations teams in the UAE,
issuing more than 100 releases and alerts every year and receiving in excess of
200 media enquiries each week from around the globe.

The Etihad Airways Corporate Affairs department has rebuilt its strategy
and processes during the past 18 months, focusing on core areas including
social media, internal communications and corporate social responsibility.

The department won the in-house team of the year award at the Middle
East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) awards ceremony in December 2013.